Well flowing device



G. A. HUMASON WELL FLowING DEVICE Oct. 25, 1938.

Filed July 16, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l la 6 4 m w wfn LUM m m Wm 7%/ IIAOC- 25, 1938- G. A. HUMAsoN WELL FLOWING' DEVICE Filed July 16, 1937 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 25, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE8Claims.

The invention relates to a well lflowing device and more particularly toa device by which a ilowing well may be controlled and productionthereof continued after the production by natural flow has ceased.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the class describedwhich will enable an efflcient production of uid from well.

It is an object also to provide a well flowing device that may beutilized as a bottom hole choke.

A further object is to provide a well ilowing device in which theelevation of fluid under natural pressure may be supplemented by gas airlift operations.

Still another object is to provide a device of the character describedwhich may be utilized to control the flow of wells under naturalpressure and which may thereafter be utilized for production of the wellby pumping.

Another object of the invention is to providel a device of the characterdescribed in which the y moving parts thereof are lubricated by anenclosed oil bath.

Other objects, together with the foregoing, will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the upper end of thedevice comprlsing the invention.

Fig 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of tral portion of the device andis a continuation of the view shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the lower portionof the device.'I'his view is a continuation of the portion of the device shown in Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view partly in section showing a completeassembly comprising the device of the invention.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views similar to those shown in Figs. 1to 3 but showing the relaf tive position of parts of the device whenoperated as a pumping unit.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are sectional views similar to Figs. l, 2 and 3 butshowing a modified construction of the device of the invention. I

Fig. ll is a sectional view taken on line II-I/I of Fig. 9. y

In Fig. 4 is shown a flow tubing I with the parts in relative positionswhen the device is lowered into a well bore. 'I'he part ofthe flowtubing I, which extends to the surface and conducts liquid of the wellto the surface, is indicated at 2 and is shown as threadably connectedto coupling 3. Below coupling 3 and attached a Centhereto is a workingbarrel 4generally designated as 4 and which comprises an upper section 5and a lower section 6, which sections are interconnected by a specialnipple I through couplings 8 and 9. Attached to the lower end of theworking barrel through a coupling I0 is a body Il which carries a valveseat I2 and has longitudinal openings I3 through which liquid may passupwardly into the working barrel 4. A valved nipple I4 is threadablysecured to the body Il through coupling I5. Within the nipple I4 is a.

valve seat I6 upon which a gravity actuated valve member I1 ispositioned to permit upward movement of fluid into the device. Thetubing string continues downwardly at I8 for any suitable distance intothe well bore. the device may be used for any desired level within thewell bore.

If, however, the device is to serve as a bottom hole choke it is obviousthat it will be located a material distance below the mouth of the wellbore. An operating rod 25 extends downwardly into the operating string2\and is connected to a composite inner assembly generally designated as26. This inner assembly 26 comprises a check valve 21, a gas liftconnector 28 and a plunger assembly 29 comprising an upper plunger 33and an interlock body 30 whereby the vinner assembly 26 may be securedin fixed position within the working barrel 4 by a threaded engagementwith the nipple 1. Continuing below the interlock body 30 are the lowerplunger assembly 3| and a 'valve member 32 which is adapted to seatwithin the seat I2 in the body member Il whenthe inner assembly 26 isscrewed downwardly by means of operating rod 25.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 6 for a more detailed description, it willbe noted that the check valve 21 connected to the operating rod 25comprises valve housing 35 having a downwardly facing valve seat 36against which ball valve 31 is urged by means of compression spring 38which is held in position by means of a transverse pin 39 which extendsthrough the walls of the valve housing 35. This construction permits theow of `fluid downwardly under pressure through the operating rod 25.Such iluid passes downwardly into the connector body 28, whence itpasses through diagonally upward openings 40 in the connector body intothe annular space between the operating rod 25 and the tubing string 2.With this construction uid` lift may be utilized for lifting liquidupwardly from the level of theconnector body 28.

It appears obvious that A valve body 45 is attached to the connectorbody 28 and has radial openings 46 which lead outwardly from the centralbore 41 of the plunger assembly 29. Within the valve body 45 is aplunger like valve 48, which is slidable so that liquid rising withinthe bore'41 will displace the valve upwardly whereby liquid may bedischarged through the openings 46. A mandrel 50 is; threadably attachedto the lower end of the valve body 45 through a collar 5|. A flangedring 52 is clamped between the valve body 45 and the mandrel 50 toprovide a seat for the cup-shaped valve 48. At the same time, anupwardly facing valve cup 53 is clamped between the valve body 45 andcoupling member 5|. In the assembly of the mandrel 50 with the collar5|, two downwardly facing valve cups 54 and two upwardly facing valvecups 55 are placed thereon with intervening clamping rings 56. When themandrel and the collar are then threadably joined there is formed acomposite. piston or upper plunger assembly generally designated as 33which is so constructed as to prevent passage of liquid thereby ineither direction. The central bore 41 through the mandrel 50 continuesthrough the interlock body 30, which is provided with coarse peripheralthreads to cooperate with complementary internal threads in thenipple 1. When these threads are in engagement it is obvious thatthe'inner assembly 26 is fixed relative to the working barrel 4 exceptthat the inner assembly may be moved upwardly or downwardly by rotatingthe operating rod 25. While square threads are shown on the interlockbody 30 of the nipple 1, it is obvious that other types of` threads maybe provided. For example, a mutilated thread may be used whereby theinner assembly 26 may be raised or lowered by rotating the operating rodin a fixed direction.

The lower plunger assembly 3| is connected to the interlock body 30through a swivel connection generally referred to as 65. 'I'his swivelconnection comprises connector members 66 and 61 which are provided withcomplementary inner and outer grooves 68 and 69 which .receive ringsegments 10 in a manner that will be described when referring to Fig.11. 'I'he reduced. upper end 1| of the connector 61 is provided with anenlarged bore 12 threaded internally to receive a flange plug 13 whichsecures packing cup 14 thereon to seal the joint between the connectors66 and 61 to prevent flow of fluid from within the central bore 41through the joint in the swivel 65. The opposite ends of the swivelassembly are threadably connected to the bore 30 and lower plungerassembly 3| i The lower plunger assembly 3| is similar to upper. plungerassembly 33, and it is believed unnecessary to further describe theassembly to which similar reference characters have been applied.

At the end of the lower plunger assembly 3| #is valve member 32 whichhas a central bore 34 which is coaxial with the bore 41 in the plungerassemblies 3| and 33. The outer surface of this valve member 32 istapered to engage the inner tapered-walls of the valve seat member I2 inthe upper end of the body I I. Surrounding the valve seat member I2 is aring valve 15 normally held in seating position to close the passages I3by means of compression spring 16, which is retained in position by theflange 11 on the valve seat 32.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show the relative positions of the parts of the devicejust described when the inner assembly has been rotated to release theinterlock body 30 from the nipple 1. When the parts are in this positionit seems obvious that this inner assembly 26 may be reciprocated throughthe reciprocation of rod 25 so that the device will operate as a.reciprocating pump, the flow of liquid taking the path indicated by thearrows.

In the modification shown in Figs. 8 to 10 the interlock member 30 isprovided with an upward extension which serves as a mandrel` for theupper plunger assembly 33. A reducing coupling 8| is attached to theupper end of extension 80 and has a cage valve, generally designated as82, threadably xed therein. Cage valve 82 comprises a plug portion 83having an external threaded boss 84 upon which a flange valve seat ring85 is positioned. A ball valve 86 moves downwardly and engages the seaton ring .85 and permits movement of fluid upwardly through the bore 41of the plunger assembly 28. Seating ring 85 is secured in place by a capmember 81 which serves as a' valve cage. Surrounding the cage valve 82and secured to the threads within the coupling 8| is the tubing string88, which serves as a pumping rod and flow line, as will more clearlyappear.

'Ihe remainder of the modified form of the invention illustrated inFigs. 8 to l0 is identical to that above described when referring toFigs. 1 to 7 and the parts are designated by similarreferencecharacters.

In Fig. 11 is shown a cross-sectional detail of the swivel connectionafforded by the connector 65. In this construction a threaded radialopening is provided in the tubular connector member 66 to admitindividual ring segments 8| which are successively inserted until acomplete ring is formed. The segments are then retained in place withinthe complementary grooves 66 and 69 by means of a screw cap 92. Withthis construction it is apparent that there is an effective swiveling ofthe lower plunger assembly 3| and the valve member I2 with the remainderof the inner assembly 26. This feature is of importance in that itminimizes friction which tends to prevent the rotation of the upperportion of the inner assembly when it is desired to alter the threadedconnection between the inner assembly 26 and the nipple 1.

Furthermore, the connection obviates the transmission of any rotationalmovement from the interlock member to the Valve member 32 as the valveis moved relative to its seat I2 and is approaching closed position oris receding therefrom.

When the described device is being assembled a good grade of oil ispoured into the working barrel to fill the entire space between theupper and lower plunger assemblies 33 and 3| and hence interlock member30 and swivel connection 65 are completely surrounded by oil at alltimes. The downwardly and upwardly facing valve cups of these plungers,respectively, prevent any leakage of this 'oil from within the deviceand hence the Working parts of the device are protected and long lifeand ease in operation of the device are assured.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 7, it will be assumed that the device andits parts in the respective positions shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is loweredand fixedyin position in the well adapted to flow under pressure in theproducing strata. To start the well flowing, operating rod 25 is rotatedto lift valve member 32 from its seat I2 whereby fluid under pressurewill lift ring valve 15 and will ow upward through the inner assembly26, thence through passages 46 in valve cage 45 into the flow string 2,and fluid will thus be conducted from the well through the ilow tubing.In event it is desired to alter the choking action of the valve member32 and its complementary seat l2, it is merely necessary to rotate theoperating string 25 sufficiently to obtain desired amounts of choking.If the pressure in the well falls below a point at which the naturalflow of the well ceases, further ilow may be induced by introduction ofiluid under pressure through the operating string 25 whereby the bottomwell pressure is supplemented by a gas air lift and production of thewell continues.

In this manner, production from the well may be inefficient or maybecome ineicient as the life of the well increases. In such event theoperating string 25 may be rotated sufficiently that interlock body 30is released from its connection with nipple 1, whereupon the innerassembly 26 may be reciprocated by means of operating string 25 and thedevice functions as a plunger pump. Such operation may be used alone orit may be supplemented with the gas air lift feature described above.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 8 to 10 operates in a manner similar tothat .just described with the exception that fluid moving upwardly inthe inner assembly 26 is not discharged outwardly therefrom into thetubing string. Instead the well liquid flows upwardly to the cage valve32 and thence upwardly through the operating string 88 which thus servesas a flow line.

The above description of the preferred embodiment and a modification ofthe invention, together with a disclosure of the mode of operationthereof, makes apparent the advantages of the invention and constructionwhereby the objects of the invention are realized.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described the combination of a flow tubing,a working barrel connected to said 4ilow tubing, said working barrel,

having an internally threaded portion intermediate its ends, a bodyconnected to said working barrel and having openings communicating withthe interior of the barrel, a valve seat in said body, a plungerassembly in the barrel, said plunger assembly having an axial boretherein and means for engaging the threaded portion of the barrel, avalve member on the plunger assembly for engagement with said valveseat, and an operating string connectedgto said plunger assembly andextending upwardly within said flow tubing.

2. In a well flowing device the combination of a flow tubing, a plungerassembly within said tubing, said assembly comprising an upper plunger,and a lower plunger, an interlock member between said plungers forreleasable engagement of the assembly with the flow tubing, cooperatingmeanson said flow tubing to inter-engage therewith, a valve on the lowerend of the plunger assembly, a valve seat in said tubing below thevalve, and an operating string connected to said assembly, and extendingupwardly within the ow tubing whereby the valve may be opened to admitfluid to the flow tubing.

3. In a well flowing device the combination of a flow tubing having avalve seat at the lower end thereof, a plunger assembly slidable withinsaid tubing and having an axial bore whereby fluid may pass axiallyupward through said assembly and tubing, means for moving said assemblyaxially of said tubing, a valve on said assembly adapted to engage saidvalve seat to control the rate of flow through the tubing when theplunger assembly is moved to lift the valve from its seat and releasablemeans to lock said plunger with said valve in its seat.

4. In a well owing device, a flow tubing having a valve seat therein, aplunger assembly slidable within said tubing and having an axial bore,whereby iiuid may flow through the valve seat and plunger assembly intothe tubing, said plunger assembly comprising spaced plungers 1 swivellyinterconnected through an interlocking member adapted to engage internalthreads in the tubing, a valve member on the lower end of the plungerassembly and an operating string connected to the assembly to rotate theassembly and advance the valve member into seating engagement with thevalve seat.

5. In a well flowing device a flow tubing having a valve seat therein, aplunger, assembly slidable within said tubing and having an axial bore,said plunger assemblycomprising spaced plungers having sealing ringsthereon to confine an oil bath .Within the tubing and between theplungers, an

interlocking member between said plungers and having peripheral threadsfor. engagement with an internally threaded section of the tubing, avalve member on the lower end of the assembly to engage said seat, andan operating string connected to the assembly whereby the assembly maybe rotated to move the valve from the seat.

6. In a well flowing device a iiow tubing having a valve seat therein, aplunger assembly slidable within said tubing and having an axial bore,l

a valve member on said assembly adapted to cooperate with said seat toclose the same, a threaded connection between said assembly and thetubing, an operating string extending downwardly in said tubing andconnected to the plunger assembly, whereby said connection may beunthreaded and the plunger assembly reciprocated by the operatingstring.

7. In a well owng device, a ow tubing having a valve seat therein, aplunger assembly slidable within said tubing above said seat, saidassembly having an axial bore therein, a valve member on the lower endof the plunger asaxial bore through'the assembly, a threaded connectionbetween said asembly and the flow tubing, means for rotating the plungerassembly to separate the valvel from its seat whereby liquid may owthrough said assembly, and means for introducing a gaseous fluid underpressure to the liquid above the assembly to lift the liquid in thetubing.

8. In a well owing device, a string of tubing within the well and havinga valve seat therein, an operating string extending downwardly into thewell and having a check valve therein, a plunger assembly slidablewithinsaid tubing and connected to said operating string, said assemblycomprising spaced plungers havingl a passage therethrough, a threadedconnection between said assembly and the tubing, and a valve member onthe assembly for engagement with said valve seat when the assembly ismoved downwardly by rotation of the operating string.

